Monthly Archives: December 2016

I just have to do it. Tomorrow begins my writing marathon and I don’t imagine I’ll have the time or the energy to write about some of the other things that matter to me so though I’ve already posted a … Continue reading →

It’s December 31st 2016, day zero of the Challenge, my personal, public commitment to write a novel of at least fifty thousand words in January. In this blog I intend to publish a weekly report  on my progress. It’s a little bit … Continue reading →

I’ve always been reluctant to sign up with the Department of Motor Vehicles, aka the DMV, as an organ donor. In one of those instances of being unable to make up my mind, I simply postponed a decision every time … Continue reading →

I love my family, my friends, my colleagues, my people. A friend who knows how I feel about celebrating Christmas made me a present anyway — a beautiful coat rack made entirely from salvage. I was touched but it’s still … Continue reading →

The Challenge begins with a need. My need — for money. I’m an anti-capitalist, in my personal philosophy, but as John Updike once pointed out, we live in a capitalist economy and in it we must survive and thrive. For … Continue reading →

I’m not a devoted, conscientious blogger and I don’t have a large following. I don’t post regularly; I write when I have something to say. Other times, I’m happy to read what others have written and to comment if it’s … Continue reading →

English is the language of the Empire and so naturally, effortlessly, adsorbs words and expressions from the international community. My little inner Grammarian finds that process immensely interesting. No mystery there. I grew up in Trinidad (&Tobago, if you want … Continue reading →

Satire is dangerous ground for a writer; people tend to take you literally and be offended by your work. I’ve read that this was what happened to Jonathan Swift when he wrote his satirical essay, ‘A Modest Proposal’. I’m not … Continue reading →

I think that words produce intelligence. Yeah, I’ve heard the bits about different ways of learning, how some people hear things, while others need pictures, or social interaction, or so on and so on. I’m sure that there’s something there, but … Continue reading →